There were 12,539 white students enrolled in Middlesex County school districts in the 2023-24 school year, 3.2% less than the previous year, according to the Connecticut State Department of Education.
Data showed that Middlesex County school districts welcomed 17,895 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, white students comprised 70.1% of the student body to be the most represented ethnicity in the county districts.
Among the 14 districts in Middlesex County, Middletown School District recorded the highest enrollment of white students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of 1,787 students.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Middlesex County.
Student enrollment has been dropping in Connecticut’s public schools for over a decade now. With the exception of a slight relief in the 2021-22 school year, schools in the state have lost more than 30,000 students since 2014.Â
A 2022 survey revealed that nearly 75% of Connecticut teachers were dissatisfied with their working conditions, and a similar percentage considered leaving the profession earlier than planned. Stress and burnout were cited as significant concerns.
Between 2015 and 2021, Connecticut experienced a 16% decrease in the number of graduates completing teacher preparation programs, dropping from 2,132 to 1,788. This decline contributes to the ongoing teacher shortage in the state.
| District Name | % of white Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Chester School District | 87.9% | 207 |
| Clinton School District | 69.6% | 1,457 |
| Cromwell School District | 67% | 1,904 |
| Deep River School District | 86.2% | 195 |
| East Haddam School District | 88.4% | 999 |
| East Hampton School District | 86.3% | 1,742 |
| Essex School District | 87% | 300 |
| Middletown School District | 40.8% | 4,378 |
| Old Saybrook School District | 77.2% | 1,030 |
| Portland School District | 72% | 1,243 |
| Regional School District 04 | 83.4% | 723 |
| Regional School District 13 | 87.2% | 1,350 |
| Regional School District 17 | 89.2% | 1,770 |
| Westbrook School District | 69.8% | 597 |




